Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt

Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt was a member of the prominent Roosevelt family and a successful Businessman and Financier in New York City. He was the son of Nicholas Roosevelt and the father of Theodore Roosevelt Sr., making him the grandfather of the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt was also a cousin of Robert Fulton, the inventor of the Steamboat, and a friend of De Witt Clinton, the Governor of New York. He was involved in various business ventures, including the New York and Erie Railroad and the Chemical Bank.

● Early Life and Education

Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1794, in New York City, to Nicholas Roosevelt and Anna Van Schaack Roosevelt. He was educated at Columbia College, where he studied Law and Business. During his time at Columbia College, he was influenced by prominent figures such as Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. After completing his education, he began his career in Business and Finance, working with notable figures like John Jacob Astor and Stephen Van Rensselaer.

● Business Career

Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt's business career spanned several decades and involved various ventures, including Banking, Shipping, and Railroads. He was a director of the Chemical Bank and a major investor in the New York and Erie Railroad. He also had business dealings with John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, and William Henry Seward. Additionally, he was involved in the development of the Erie Canal, which connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River and played a significant role in the growth of New York State.

● Personal Life

Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt married Margaret Barnhill Roosevelt in 1818, and they had five children together, including Silas Weir Roosevelt, Cornelius Roosevelt, Robert Barnhill Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt Sr.. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and served as a Vestryman at Trinity Church in New York City. He was also a friend of Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper, and he supported the work of the American Bible Society and the American Tract Society.

● Legacy

Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt's legacy is closely tied to his family's history and his contributions to the development of New York City and New York State. He was a respected member of the Roosevelt family and played a significant role in shaping the family's business and philanthropic endeavors. His son, Theodore Roosevelt Sr., was a prominent Philanthropist and Businessman, and his grandson, Theodore Roosevelt, went on to become the 26th President of the United States. Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt's business dealings and investments also had a lasting impact on the growth and development of New York City and the surrounding region.

● Family and Ancestry

Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt was a member of the Roosevelt family, which included notable figures such as Claes van Rosenvelt, Nicholas Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt. He was also related to other prominent families, including the Van Schaacks, the Barnhills, and the Aspinwalls. His family's history dates back to the early days of New Amsterdam, and he was proud of his Dutch and English heritage. Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt's ancestors included Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch Director-General of New Netherland, and John Winthrop, the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was also a cousin of Robert Fulton, the inventor of the Steamboat, and a friend of De Witt Clinton, the Governor of New York.